Walking heel



J. J. ETTlNGER April 3, 1951 WALKING HEEL Filed May 19, 1950 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1951 WALKING HEEL Joe J.

Ettinger, Warsaw, Ind., assignor to Zimmer Manufacturing Company, Warsaw,

Ind.

Application May 19, 1950, Serial No. 162,970 2 Claims. (Cl. 128--94.5)

This invention relates to surgical appliances and has special reference to ambulatory splints. More particularly the invention relates to that type of ambulatory splints found useful in those fractures of the tibia and fibula when it is desirable to make the case ambulatory in the early stages of union, such splints being known as rubber tread walking heels.

In the splints of this type previously known the splint forms a stirrup having vertical sides connected at their lower ends by an integral cross piece which, when the device is in use, lies directly above the heel of the wearer and such a position has been found not wholly desirable in many cases.

It is one important object of the present invention to provide a novel construction of walking heel wherein, when in use, the cross piece will lie beneath the arch of the foot while the sides of the stirrup crossing the fracture will lie parallel to the fractured bone or bones.

The ordinary types of such splints have the sides of the stirrup formed either as flat and straight metal or straight metal bars each twisted on its axis to form a partial convolution in its length. Each of these forms lack mechanical resistance to longitudinal movement in the cast in which the splint is embedded but depend entirely on the adhesion between the plastic cast and the metal of the stirrup.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of walking heel wherein the stirrup sides are so shaped as to present a mechanical resistance to longitudinal movement of the sides in the cast in addition to the resistance due to adhesion.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be presently apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly claimed.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved walking heel.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention as here shown the body of the device is made of strap metal such as steel, plated or unplated, Duralumin or other suitable metal. The strap is bent at point equidistant from its center to form a cross piece or bar 10. At each end of the cross bar H] the end portions of the strap extend upward for a short distance as at II. From the upper ends of the portions II the sides of the stirrup extend backwardly and upwardly at l2 and then extend vertically upward at E3. The vertical portions l3 have sinuosities I4 for the greater portions of their lengths. The side portions ll, l2 on one side of the stirrup are parallel to the like portions on the other side of the stirrup. The upper ends [5 of the stirrup sides are flat. In use, as shown in Fig. 1, the portions l3, l4 and i5 extend along opposite sides of the leg of the patient and, when embedded in the cast C, interlock mechanically with the cast to resist any vertical movement between the stirrup and cast. The cross bar It] is, by this formation of the stirrup, offset forwardly of the leg engaging portions.

Secured to the inner faces of the portions l5 are arcuate plates i6, rivets ll holding them fixedly in their positions to form leg embracing confronting plates. Under the cross bar [0 is a rubber ground engaging strip l8 held in position by rivets I9. The bar in and strip iii are thus, in use, located beneath the wearers instep.

This invention is applied to the fractured limb in connection with a cast but has the advantages of forming a mechanical connection with the cast and of relieving direct longitudinal pressure on the fracture and of lessening'any jarring of broken bones which takes place when the patient walks.

What is claimed, is:

1. In a walking heel, a cross bar for extension across the foot below the instep, lower side portions extending upwardly and rearwardly from the ends of the cross bar, and upper side portions extending vertically upward from the upper ends of said lower side portions.

2. In a walking heel, a cross bar for extension across the foot below the instep, lower side portions extending upwardly and rearwardly from the ends of the cross bar, and upper side portions extending vertically upward from the upper ends of said lower side portions, said upper side portions being provided with sinuosities for the greater portion of their lengths.

JOE J. ETTINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

